In this Expert Interview we talk to Weston Jacques, Executive Director of Evict Radon – a new non-profit organization dedicated to radon awareness and testing across Canada via a University of Calgary research study. During our conversation, Weston discusses the evolution of the Evict Radon campaign and how it is expanding this year…

How did the project come about?

Evict Radon started as a research study out of the University of Calgary through Dr. Aaron Goodarzi. Dr. Goodarzi is studying radon at the University and trying to identify why some homes have low levels of radon, while others have high levels of radon. In order to do this, he needed as many people as possible to test their homes for radon gas. In order to do this successfully, he needed to build a campaign to increase public awareness with a call to action to purchase a radon testing kit, hence the creation of Evict Radon.

What is your role in Evict Radon and how has the campaign grown?

I was employed by the University of Calgary in November 2018 to support Dr. Goodarzi’s from a communications perspective and help get the message out there. My employment coincided with additional funding for the project which was used to widen the scope of Evict Radon outside of Calgary to the rest of Alberta.

Due to the success of Evict Radon last year we realized it had more scope than just a four-month campaign (October- January). It soon became apparent that Evict Radon could shape radon awareness, on the back of the University research, across the entire country. Therefore, in February 2019 we took the decision to incorporate Evict Radon as its own non-profit. This is when I assumed the role of Executive Director.

Even though we now have a national focus, we are still very much run out of the University of Calgary, but we recognize that we are growing and it’s becoming a much bigger entity than just a University research study. My role during the campaign season is to ensure the public understand what radon is and why they should purchase one of our kits and participate in our project.

Crucially, by purchasing through us you are contributing back to lung cancer research. Furthermore, the kits are analysed in a laboratory which is the only ISO17025 certified alpha track testing facility of its kind, so we are 100% confident in the lab analysis and its QA process.

Why does the campaign run during the fall and winter?

Originally the research was showing higher levels of radon in the winter – particularly in climates such as ours. Because we have very cold winters people seal their homes and turn on their furnaces which creates a shift in the negative pressure which in turn has the potential to increase radon levels.

What has been the feedback from the public?

Radon awareness is very low. Not a lot of people know about it, or really understand it. What we’re really trying to do is leverage the University research to increase awareness and education about the harmful effects of radon. As Dr. Goodarzi is the Canadian Research Chair for Radiation Exposure Disease, it provides the campaign with a degree of authority and so when we communicate with the public there’s a lot of trust as it comes directly from an institute. In general, the feedback has been really good.

Evict Radon was never meant to be a scare campaign, we didn’t want to freak the public out about a gas in their homes which they couldn’t see, smell or taste. We wanted the campaign to be easy to remember which is why we called it Evict Radon, it’s a play on words which is easy to understand and gets the message across.

There aren’t many platforms which allow the public to ask questions about radon, which is a responsibility we’ve taken onboard. You can find out a lot of information on our website and we try to keep it as simple as possible. We take the time to answer all calls and emails and reiterate this is the first step to lung cancer prevention.

What’s new moving forward?

In order to communicate our message across all of Canada, we need to offer all our information in both English and French. We’re currently exploring what it will take to develop a French website and French speaking support team. For this year, there will be far more focus on the Saskatchewan province in Western Canada as we are seeing very high levels of radon in this area and really hope to get as many people testing as possible.

What has been your experience with the service provided by Radonova?

We could not do this without the support of Radonova. Their partnership in this endeavor has helped us design a custom service model that meets the specific needs of our project. They’ve been fantastic in terms of accommodating our residential audience – each homeowner must fill out a home metrics survey and register their kit on Radonova’s platform. The research we produce annually couldn’t happen without this information and because of this, they have been a phenomenal partner in the success and expansion of the Evict Radon campaign.

In this expert interview, we talk to Dr Aaron Goodarzi, the Canada Research Chair for Radiation Exposure Disease, about the dangers of radon exposure. During our conversation, Dr. Goodarzi discusses the steps that need to be taken to lessen the risk of radon exposure, the greater need for collaboration between countries and technical communities to ensure that radon exposure is tackled on a global basis and why projects like Evict Radon are essential if we are to eradicate radon as a health issue.

In brief, could you please describe what you consider to be the main challenges for fighting radon and its consequent impact on human health?

In many parts of the world, radon exposure in buildings is a worsening problem due to the evolving nature of our built environment. Lung cancer is the highest lethality cancer type known, and rates continue to rise in non-smokers for reasons that are still not clear. So, three of the most important challenges right now are (i) finding out exactly HOW our human-made environment influences our radon exposure, (ii) then WHAT we can do to reduce radon exposure and (iii) develop a clear, molecular-level understanding of WHY the radiation from radon gives rise to cancer.

(If you agree) could you please explain and elaborate on why radon exposure issue is a global issue? And how can global cooperation can help alleviate the problem?

Radon is essentially everywhere where humans have built cities on Earth, the main question is how much is entering and being concentrated within a given type of building. Different countries have different radon problems, but most can learn from one another about what works (and does not work) in terms of radon exposure awareness, testing, prevention and mitigation. Successes need to be shared to more quickly reduce radon in countries just recently coming to grips with their radon problem, whilst failures are equally important to learn from, so they are not repeated.

In many parts of the world, the knowledge about radon is low. Why do you think there’s a shortage of knowledge and awareness about radon?

Simply put, it takes time and a great deal of resources to raise radon awareness from ‘nothing’. Some countries started this process back in the 1980’s, when the connection between radon in homes and lung cancer was first realized. Naturally, those areas now enjoy a much greater level of awareness versus those that did not start the process of educating their populations until much later. As different parts of the world realize the scale of their radon problem, they slowly put resources in terms of funds and human activity into tackling the problem. Given that radon itself is literally invisible, such awareness campaigns require finesse and careful tailoring to cater the message to specific audiences and cultures. What works for one culture or demographic does not necessarily work for another, and so there is no ‘magic bullet’ for radon awareness, but rather the need for a great deal of hard work from a lot of smart and caring people.

Could you tell us a bit about the Canadian “Evict Radon” campaign? Why is it important and what are the results so far?

Evict Radon emerged from the work of enthusiastic biologists in the Canadian province of Alberta back in 2013, slowly evolving from a local radon testing campaign into a national non-profit program that uses the latest in research from across disciplines (biology, architecture, geoscience, psychology, population health and more) to defeat the radon problem. Evict Radon has revolutionized radon awareness in Canada, using a citizen science approach to encourage Canadians to test their homes for radon, while at the same time contributing their data to cancer prevention research efforts in the public domain. It has been an enormous success, with multiple peer-reviewed studies being released and underway – as well as getting 16,000 Canadians radon tested in approximately 4-5 years. Some of our key findings so far include the scale of radon exposure in the Canadian Prairies – the second highest on Earth – and the observation that newer North American homes contain substantially higher and still worsening radon levels compared to older homes. We are also in the process of discovering the ‘formula’ for a high versus low radon property, which will be very important to ensure that new homes no longer contain high radon.

Radonova has been measuring and analysing radon for a long time and they are involved in the Evict Radon campaign. What is your impression of its radon detectors and expertise?

We carefully surveyed different testing options at the outset of our study, and ultimately decided to go with Radonova for three reasons. First, their devices are the only ISO certified devices available – meaning the validity of the radon data obtained from such devices is recognized internationally as they are rigorously tested on a regular basis by independent third parties. Second, they offered the highest possible data security and online infrastructure we could find. Finally, their quality control process met our exacting standards in terms of accuracy, precision and scientific rigor.

How much can we achieve when it comes to fighting radon?

I firmly believe that we will get to a state where radon, as a source of lung cancer, is a rarity or even a memory. This will take time, but it has been done for other toxic compounds and pollutants. Given that radon can be so easily tested for and, if high, removed from a property, there is no reason why it should continue to take the lives of thousands upon thousands of people each year.

About Dr. Goodarzi

Dr. Goodarzi is the Canada Research Chair for Radiation Exposure Disease. He obtained his PhD from University of Calgary in 2005 and trained as a post-doctoral scholar at the Genome Damage and Stability Centre at the University of Sussex (UK) until 2010. In 2011, he opened his own laboratory at the University of Calgary’s School of Medicine. In 2015, he was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40; in 2016, he was made a University of Calgary “Peak Scholar” for innovation in radon gas and lung cancer knowledge engagement; in 2018, he was selected as a TEDx speaker and, in 2019, received one of the School of Medicine’s Education Awards for innovation in graduate training.

Dr. Goodarzi is the founder and leader of Evict Radon, a new Canadian non-profit organization whose goal is to solve Canada’s substantial and worsening radon-gas exposure problem through interdisciplinary research for the benefit of all Canadians.

Additional Links

Dr. Goodarzi profile, University of Calgary: https://www.ucalgary.ca/bmb/profiles/dr-aaron-goodarzi

“Radon in our Homes: The Science Behind the Danger”, Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, TEDx Talk: https://radonova.com/ted-talk/

Radonova: https://radonova.com/

For more information

Bill Rounds, President of Radonova Phone: +1.331.814.2201,

‘E-mail: bill.rounds@radonova.com

Radonova Laboratories has hired Odd Magne Solheim who will be responsible for the company’s expansion plans in Norway. Due to the appointment, Radonova will now have its own local presence in the Norwegian measurement and analysis of radon market. The investment in Norway is part of Radonova’s wider plans to enhance its international presence as many regions across the world become increasingly affected by stringent requirements for measuring radon in homes and workplaces.

Norway has recently adopted a national radon strategy which has led to a regulatory framework that will increase the need for radon measurement in housing and workplaces.

”At Radonova, we always strive to have local expertise in the countries we operate. With Magne as part of the team, we are now better positioned to increase our presence in Norway. Magne is an expert on issues related to radon and radon measurement. He will play an important role in allowing us to offer improved and additional services to both new and existing customers in the region”, comments Karl Nilsson, CEO of Radonova Laboratories.

”Knowledge of the dangers of radon has recently increased in Norway. The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) has been proactively distributing information to the public to ensure more people are aware of the harmful effects of radon. This has consequently led to more radon measurements in the country. As the world’s leading radon laboratory, Radonova is ideally positioned to play an active role in providing radon measurement technologies to businesses and individuals to mitigate the dangers of radon exposure”, comments Odd Magne Solheim.

“I have worked in collaboration with Radonova for many years and know that they have a very high level of expertise and can offer the fastest delivery and analysis times on the market. They also have a corporate culture that I like. I really look forward to being responsible for the company’s development and operations in Norway”, Magne concludes.

Odd Magne Solheim has 20 years of experience in radon measurement, consulting and product development, which included working at the Norwegian Building Research Institute. Magne is a trained engineer with a focus on ventilation and indoor climate.

Radonova’s Norwegian office is located in Brandbu in Hadeland, which is about an hour’s drive north of Oslo.

For more information about radon and radon measurement please click here

For more information contact Karl Nilsson, CEO Radonova Laboratories AB
Phone: 070-639 01 31, Email: karl.nilsson@radonova.com

Last week the 33rd Annual 2019 International Radon Symposium and Trade Show (AARST) was hosted by the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technicians (AARST) in downtown Denver, CO.? Members of the Radonova team from both sides of the pond were in attendance, exhibiting in the sold-out vendor hall.? The symposium is the largest of its kind and is attended by hundreds of radon professionals including scientists, regulators and companies from across the United States, as well as participants from Canada, Europe, and Asia.

There were over 70 guest speakers including the keynote speech from Dr. Jonathan Samet, M.D., M.S. Dean and Professor of the Colorado School of Public Health, who provided an insightful look back at the history of radon and its role in our environment and workplaces. During the talk Dr Samet highlighted the many controversies which have occurred across radon’s history, some of which are now resolved as the scientific foundation for radon control becomes more certain. The presentation ended with a look forward to the future of controlling radon’s risks. Another presentation of note was delivered by featured speaker Sara Jensen from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who provided an update on its radon policies for multifamily financing.

Naturally, the tradition of the AARST social “Night-Out” continued on, with attendees joining for a fun evening of food and drink, networking, and sport at the Wynkoop Brewery, Denver’s original craft brewery which was founded in 1988. During the evening conference goers challenged each other to games of pool, foosball, and shuffleboard.

Denver was a fantastic location, the symposium was well organized, and we left the 33rd annual meeting feeling motivated and energized to meet the challenges ahead of us, which is to provide as many quality measurement results as possible, and empower people to take action to minimize unnecessary exposure to the harmful effects of this known carcinogen, radon gas.

Let’s hope by the time we attend the 2020 Symposium more technological and legislative advances have been made to combat the issue of radon exposure

Radonova Laboratories and Durridge have signed a reseller agreement where Radonova will make the Durridge RAD7 radon and thoron detector available to the European market. So far over 5 000 units of RAD7 have been sold in six continents and the instrument has become a standard in the global scientific community, including mentions in over 2 500 research papers.

Carlos Bielicki, Chief Commercial Officer at Durridge, said: “The partnership with Radonova is a key part of our global strategy and we are confident that Radonova’s excellent reputation, knowledge and sales team will significantly increase Durridge’s exposure on the European market. Customers that need a radon and thoron instrument for any application can rest assured that the RAD7 delivers unparalleled measurement performance at a cost-effective price.”

Karl Nilsson, CEO at Radonova Laboratories, said: “Durridge RAD7 is an excellent complement to our own radon sniffer ATMOS. RAD7 is built on a different technology and makes it possible to detect both thoron and radon gas. From that aspect and based on RAD7´s track record this is a very important agreement which makes our portfolio of instruments even stronger.”

Dag Sedin, Senior Advisor at Radonova Laboratories, comments: “The capacity to measure both thoron and radon gas is especially important in some applications. Thoron gas has a half-life of one minute where RAD7 allows measurements detecting if the source has direct contact with the earth air which many times is the source of radon as well. My experience is that RAD7 is a very reliable and useful instrument. For instance, it is a very effective tool when measuring radon levels where ventilation varies over time. The instrument also comes with a number of accessories for measurement in water and soil.”

The RAD7 is used in a variety of applications in North America, a prevalent use is for geologists to measure radon as an environmental tracer for groundwater-surface water interactions. For these projects, RAD7 is used together with RAD H2O or RAD AQUA, both accessories for measuring radon in water.

For more information, please contact:

Karl Nilsson, CEO, Radonova Laboratories Phone: +46 (0)70-639 01 31, E-mail: karl.nilsson@radonova.com

Carlos Bielicki, Chief Commercial Officer, Durridge Phone: +1 978 239 0325, E-mail: carlos@durridge.com

As our global team descended on the Northern coast of Spain for our annual kick off meeting, it was a good time to reflect on what has been an outstanding last twelve months for Radonova…

During that time we have completed a number of key technical acquisitions to broaden our portfolio of radon measurement technologies, recruited experienced personnel to meet the growing demand for home and work radon measurements (in just one week in May we analysed 30,000 detectors, a record for the company), scaled up our operations to ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry and expanded our footprint across Europe by offering our services to new markets. All in all, it has been quite a year as we continue to spread the word of why measuring radon is so important to everybody’s health.

Over the few days we spent together in Santander, one key highlight was seeing how our whole team embraced the purpose of our business. Through the use of state-of-the-art technology we are committed to decreasing the number of lung cancer fatalities caused by radon exposure.

As part of an educational and fact-finding mission, the team visited the Facultad de Medicina and group Laruc which is headed up by Professor Luis S. Quindos. Professor Quindos is a radon measurement pioneer in Spain and one of the founders of the European Radon Association (ERA). Recently he was chosen to head-up a working group on radon within the Spanish Society of Radiological Protection. The Radonova team benefitted from a guided tour of the laboratory of natural radioactivity and learned more about the specific issues Spain faces in terms of radon levels and exposure.

But as you can see from the photo it wasn’t all about work, and we certainly enjoyed the beautiful coastline of Northern Spain and the culinary delights that this region has to offer. At Radonova it is our belief that our employees and their dedication to our mission are paramount to being a strong and reliable laboratory partner. To that end, team building exercises such as those at our annual Kick Off are an integral part of developing and strengthening our organization, and help position us to be a best in class service provider to our valued clients.